Director John Carpenter is a master of unique and groundbreaking horror pieces, with all time classics such as “Halloween,” and “The Thing” to his credit. So-called experts deemed Carpenter’s 2010 effort “The Ward” to be one of his weakest and most disappointing horror films. While nothing can compare to the original “Halloween” or “The Thing” in terms of groundbreaking sheer terror, “The Ward” is a solid film that offers a glimpse of great psychological horror in the midst of mindless slasher films.
Though flawed in some areas, “The Ward” triumphs is its acting talent, chilling setting, and interesting plot that’s wrapped up perfectly with a nice twist ending. As tension mounts, scare scenes are evenly distributed to keep you on edge for the entire film which, at 89 minutes, is a perfect horror running time.
Set in 1966, “The Ward” stars the gorgeous Amber Heard as Kristen, a troubled young woman who is arrested after burning down a house and is sent to the prison/psychiatric North Bend Hospital. Identities are lost in the ward as inmates are known simply by their first name etched on a blackboard outside of their respective cells.
The mysteries of the hospital are clear from the onset as Kristen must deal with a new doctor and his experimental therapy sessions and other random inmates asking if she “is going to save them.”
One odd facet is the limited number of other inmates at the ward, all of which are highly attractive young women (Danielle Panabaker, Mamie Gummer, Laura-Leigh,Lyndsy Fonseca, Mika Boorem, Sydney Sweeney) the lot of which are more fitting a Victoria’s Secret spread than inmates in a prison mental ward. Chalk that up to Hollywood.
Nevertheless, the girls come through as believable in their respective roles of locked up misfits. Maybe they’re truly disturbed – or maybe something greater is going on at North Bend. Kristen, who conceals the fact that she is not taking the pills the nurses are distributing, befriends Iris (Fonseca) who carries a mysterious notebook – sketching every person she sees. Iris tells Kristen to avoid Emily (Gummer) because “she’s crazy like me. Like you. Like the rest of us.”
Kristen seems to be on an island at the hospital. The only seemingly sane person, surrounded by potentially dangerous patients and staff, and the hospital itself which contains otherworldly haunts. Kristen works to uncover the mysteries of what is really happening and throughout, is treated to some spine chilling and heart stopping frights, perfectly fitting for a horror movie.
The ward itself serves as a disturbing setting. An archaic mental hospital were the amenities and comforts of the present day are only a pipe dream to patients treated like prisoners. The ambiguous nature of the story is kept shielded by tension filled scenes. One girl claims someone came in her room at night though all the cell doors are obviously locked. Another girl warns Kristen that sometimes when the doctors take people away, they don’t come back.
“The Ward” is a decent horror watch. Its flaws are cosmetic and easily forgettable. The gore and blood isn’t rampant and the scares are real. The setting and style are intriguing and Amber Heard is a beauty that would rival Aphrodite. Unlike many other horror films, the twist ending is actually unique and does a great job of explaining the story.
While it’s not “Halloween,” “The Ward” shows that the legend John Carpenter still has what it takes.
by – Matt Christopher
